Chapter 77 – I’m back in West Jing.
Zhao Qi had long realized how unreliable Zhao Qiao was, but he never expected anyone to be this unreliable! Thinking about how he abandoned the last line of defense as a straight man, hid under the quilt to expand a non-existent birth canal, subjected himself to pain and pleasure, and opened a door to a new world, he just… sobs, you can’t treat me like this!!!
Zhao Qi was completely in a daze, fortunately, there was someone with a clear mind at home. “Cesarean section?” Xiao Shiqing frowned slightly. “Is it feasible?”
Mei Dai replied, “I don’t know if others can do it, but it is certainly possible with my skills.”
Xiao Shiqing nodded slightly. “That’s good.” He paused and asked, “Do men really have no birth canal?”
Mei Dai sighed. “Of course not. How could Your Majesty and the Prime Minister think that men have a birth canal?”
Xiao Shiqing coldly said, “That’s for your brother to answer. Someone, bring Mei Chuan.”
Soon, the messenger returned with a report. “Your Majesty, Prime Minister, Physician Mei, he… he is missing! He left a note saying ‘The main person has arrived, my presence is no longer needed. Farewell until we meet again.’”
“…” Zhao Qi’s vision darkened, and he fainted from anger. Xiao Shiqing supported his back, “Calm down.”
But Zhao Qi had completely lost the concept of “calm.” He was burning with rage, setting fire wherever he looked. “I will kill him, I must kill him!”
Xiao Shiqing followed his lead, “Alright, kill him.”
Mei Dai immediately knelt and begged for mercy, “Your Majesty, my older brother has always been bold and reckless since he was young. He has an inexplicable obsession with pranks and finds joy in them, but he truly means no harm. Please, Your Majesty, for the sake of the long-standing friendship between Da Jing and Dongying, spare my brother’s life.”
“Pranks?” Zhao Qi’s voice trembled with anger, “How dare he play pranks on me!” Rage caused Zhao Qi to lose his composure, turning into a “tyrant,” “Since you want to plead for him, you might as well die in his place! Guards, drag this man away and execute him with the staff!”
“Your Majesty—”
Before anyone could approach, Xiao Shiqing stopped them. It wasn’t that he genuinely wanted to plead for Mei Dai; rather, there were only a few skilled doctors available to save the man. If they killed him, they’d have to borrow another from Dongying, which would cause further delays.
“Everyone, step back,” Xiao Shiqing said.
Mei Dai, trembling, glanced at Zhao Qi, “I will take my leave now.”
Once everyone had left, Zhao Qi, filled with anger and no outlet for it, wanted to vent it on Xiao Shiqing but hesitated. However, he quickly realized there was no reason to hold back. After all, whether he had to go through natural childbirth or a cesarean section, Xiao Shiqing was deeply involved.
Under Zhao Qi’s fierce gaze, Xiao Shiqing felt as if he were being targeted by a small “vicious dog,” “Your Majesty, please don’t be angry.”
Zhao Qi countered, “Wouldn’t you be angry in my place?”
Xiao Shiqing replied, “I wouldn’t want to be in your place. I am angry now. Fortunately, Mei Chuan’s medical skills are mediocre, but he still has some real talent. Otherwise…” Xiao Shiqing paused for a moment, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, “If he dared to make light of your childbirth, I would never tolerate him. Even if he escaped back to Dongying, I would capture him and bring him before you to deal with.”
Zhao Qi added, “And Zhao Qiao too!”
“Yes, and Zhao Qiao,” Xiao Shiqing called Fu Zi and gave instructions calmly.
Seeing Xiao Shiqing so composed, Zhao Qi couldn’t help but ask, “Are you really angry? You seem nothing like you were when you were truly angry.”
Xiao Shiqing asked, “For example?”
“Last time, at the dilapidated hut with Yu Chenshui.”
Xiao Shiqing responded, “That was the third time I nearly lost control in my life.”
“Oh? And the other two times?”
“The first was the night of the Wan Shou Festival banquet, the second was the day you were drunk, and the third was the hut.”
Zhao Qi noticed a pattern—when Xiao Shiqing was angry, the suffering and trouble always fell on him. The first time, Xiao Shiqing had made him pregnant with a dragon egg, the second time he had kissed him, and the third time he helped expand his birth canal… Could he conclude that when Xiao Shiqing was angry, it was always him who suffered?
Zhao Qi grumbled, “Then it’s better if you don’t get angry.”
Xiao Shiqing smiled, “And you too.”
Zhao Qi was incredulous and couldn’t help but use double standards, “I’m about to have a cesarean section and I’m not allowed to be angry?”
“Anger will make you lose your reason and judgment,” Xiao Shiqing said, “You can be as angry as you want when I’m around, but as the Son of Heaven, you shouldn’t let others see your emotions.”
Zhao Qi looked at him, “I advise you not to reason with me. I can’t take it in right now.”
“Alright, I won’t,” Xiao Shiqing bent down and touched Zhao Qi’s belly, whispering, “It’s a pity.” There would be no more excuses to expand the birth canal in the future.
Zhao Qi looked down at his small belly, “Yes, it’s a pity.” With a cesarean section, wouldn’t he end up with a scar?
“Are you tired?” Xiao Shiqing asked, “Let me carry you to bed. You can take a nap.”
Zhao Qi nodded. Being angry was exhausting.
Xiao Shiqing carried both his big and small treasures to bed and was about to cover Zhao Qi with a blanket when his hand touched something. His eyebrows raised slightly.
Zhao Qi, still unaware of what was coming, asked innocently, “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Shiqing slowly pulled out something hidden in the blanket. Zhao Qi’s face turned red and pale, his ears were flushed, and his lips slightly parted.
Xiao Shiqing’s smile was meaningful, “Your Majesty, what is this?”
Zhao Qi, “……Where am I? How did I end up here? Please get me out of here!”
Xiao Shiqing held the jade Zhao Qi had just used, his gaze darkened, “It’s a bit sticky, a bit warm, and a bit wet.”
Zhao Qi was mortified and furious, “Don’t—don’t say any more.”
Xiao Shiqing leaned close to Zhao Qi’s ear, his voice deep, “Your Majesty, you’ve been doing bad things behind my back.”
“……” At this point, it was better to admit it openly rather than endure Xiao Shiqing’s teasing—after all, he had legitimate reasons.
“It wasn’t a bad thing,” Zhao Qi said seriously, “It was a proper matter. I didn’t realize I didn’t have a birth canal.”
Heavens, he could shamelessly say “birth canal” now. Was this moral degradation or a distortion of human nature?
Xiao Shiqing fiddled with his fingertips and, with a hint of mockery, asked, “Does the Emperor prefer this jade or my hand?”
Zhao Qi realized that when Xiao Shiqing talked dirty, he always used terms like “Your Majesty” and “This subject,” which made already embarrassing things even more so.
“Your hand is not as thick as the jade.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhao Qi was stunned—what kind of wolfish words was he saying!
Xiao Shiqing understood, “So, Your Majesty likes it thicker? Well, I do have some.”
Zhao Qi couldn’t stand it any longer, “Enough! The little princess is still here, don’t you know about setting a good example?”
Xiao Shiqing chuckled and didn’t press further. He only said, “I’ll keep this jade for you. Come find me when you want to use it.”
“I’ll never use it again in my life, so give it up!”
Half a month after the dragon boat set sail, it stopped at the capital’s dock. Zhao Qi returned two months earlier than expected. He had no choice; his belly was getting bigger and bigger, almost six months along, equivalent to seven months for a pregnant woman. In another two months, he would be giving birth. It was not suitable to be out and about at this time.
Zhao Qi disembarked from the dragon boat and, instead of returning to the palace, followed the arrangements made by Xiao Shiqing earlier in the morning to go to the Xuchun Garden to rest and prepare for childbirth.
He could no longer attend court, and as much as possible, he avoided seeing people. Officially, he claimed to be ill, and all state affairs were being handled by the Prime Minister.
Aside from meeting with officials, Xiao Shiqing stayed by Zhao Qi’s side almost all the time. If Zhao Qi had not refused, Xiao Shiqing probably would have even accompanied him during sleep.
In the study, Xiao Shiqing wrapped his arms around Zhao Qi from behind as they read the confidential letter sent by the Tianji Camp. The letter stated that the hidden guards had found Zhao Qiao’s whereabouts in the Eastern Japan, but the Eastern Japan Empress Dowager refused to release him. The two sides were at an impasse. If the Tianji Camp wanted to bring him back, they would have to confront the Eastern Japanese. Hence, the letter was written to seek the Prime Minister’s advice. As for Mei Chuan, his whereabouts were currently unknown, seemingly having vanished from the world.
After reading the letter, Zhao Qi asked about Xiao Shiqing’s plan. Mei Chuan would definitely continue to be searched for, but the key issue was what to do about Zhao Qiao.
Xiao Shiqing curved his lips and said, “Zhao Qiao and the Eastern Japanese Empress Dowager… interesting.”
“How old is this Eastern Japanese Empress Dowager? It’s surprising that he could be so ruthless…”
“If I remember correctly, she should be in her thirties.”
Zhao Qi was astonished. “She’s actually that young? But isn’t the Eastern Japanese Emperor about the same age as me?”
“The Eastern Japanese Emperor is not her biological child. The Empress Dowager was the consort of the Eastern Japanese late Emperor when he was critically ill to boost his spirits.”
“That explains it,” Zhao Qi said, feeling frustrated. “So are we just going to let Xiao Qiao go?”
Xiao Shiqing asked, “Does Your Majesty wish to kill him?”
Zhao Qi was taken aback. “Not necessarily. But while death can be avoided, living with punishment is unavoidable.”
Xiao Shiqing pondered for a moment. “There’s a way to let someone else take action on your behalf.”
“Who?”
Xiao Shiqing called a servant. “Write a letter to the Eastern Japanese Palace and deliver it to the Empress Dowager.”
The servant asked, “May I ask the Prime Minister what should be written in the letter?”
Xiao Shiqing smiled slightly. “The romantic affairs of Master Zhao Si.”
They had only stayed in Xuchun Garden for three days when Empress Dowager Wen had already sent people to inquire about Zhao Qi five or six times. Xiao Shiqing sent them away each time, citing the Emperor’s poor health. Zhao Qi was worried and said, “Given Mother’s temperament, she definitely won’t give up easily. She might even come in person tomorrow.”
Xiao Shiqing said, “If she comes, how would you handle it? Will you still keep it from her?”
Zhao Qi was troubled. “I don’t know.”
“You can’t keep it from her.”
“Delaying is better than nothing.”
Xiao Shiqing suddenly said, “I don’t want to press you too hard, but don’t make me wait too long.”
Zhao Qi was taken aback. “Huh?”
T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!
If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’
How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection
What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love
How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep
